Simulated bowling pin assembly



Dec. 10, 1963 A. J. RIPEPE SIMULATED BOWLING PIN ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Dec. 2, 1960 Fig.

, AT ORNE Y Dec. 10, 1963 A. J. RIPEPE SIMULATED BOWLING PIN ASSEMBLY 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2 1960 INVENTOR.

Y E P w E R W O R w J A H P O D A United States Patent 3,113,773SIMULATED BOWLING PIN ASSEMBLY Adolph J. Ripepe, Phoenix, Ariz. (6012 E.Hampton, Tucson, Ariz.) Filed Dec. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 73,308 5 Claims.(Cl. 273-41) My invention relates to a simulated bowling pin assemblyfor use with automatic pin setting equipment,

When bowling pins were set up manually it was a simple procedure to havea pin boy set up an individual pin or particular combination of pinsless than the total rack for individual practice or instruction. Withautomatic pin setting equipment, however, which is now coming intogeneral use, it is extremely difiicult to set up an individual pin orgroup of pins, so that practice and instructing customs have suffered.To set up an individual pin, for example, it is necessary that a serviceman familiar with construction and maintenance of the complicated pinsetting equipment be used to set up the individual pin by means of along hooked rod, a timeconsuming, costly operation. Another possibilityis to crawl under :the pin resetting portion of the equipment from thefront to set up individual pins, but this is not a practical method ofmeeting the problem because the spotter of the individual pins will thenbe out on the alley, and time must be permitted for him to return to thefoul line before the practising bowler can release his ball.

Another problem of practising either individually or with an instructoris that each time the rack forming a part of the pin resetting mechanismruns through its cycle a record is made on a tabulator, which forms thebasis for accounting systems in bowling establishments. if the pinrespotting mechanism is rented, the proprietor must pay a stated amountfor the total number of cycles through which the equipment passes. Whenthe equipment is owned by the proprietor the same cycling and tabulatingoperation is normally used as part of his accounting system, and thecash receipts should reflect payments equal to total tabulations of allpin setting equipment in an establishment.

Regardless of whether the automatic pin setting equipment is owned orleased, therefore, the cost of practice or instruction sessions, inwhich the equipment is not used fully in its intended manner, becomeprohibitive and practice and instruction therefore suffer. To remedythis situation, the bowling proprietors owning their own automatic pinsetting equipment frequently provided special rates for practice undercertain circumstances, but such sessions are limited and they also giverise to accounting problems, adding to the cost of the proprietors.

The principal object of the present invention is to make possibleunlimited practice and instruction, under circumstances best calculatedto improve the bowlers skill while still avoiding the problems discussedhere and above, with respect to the automatic pin setting equipment.

Another object is the provision of a simulated bowling pin assembly foruse with automatic pin setting equipment, which may be used withoutrequiring cycling of the pin respotting mechanism, so that thetabulating equipment will not be operating and a flat charge forpractice and instruction sessions can be made.

A further object is the provision of a simulated bowling pi nassembly,which may be attached to a standard part of the automatic pin settingequipment, so that it will occupy a position substantially exactlycoinciding with the position of a selected pin.

A still further object is the provision of a simulated bowling pinassembly, one or a number of which may be attached to a standard portionof the pin resetting equipment to occupy substantially the samepositions as the pins which they replace and which, while giving thesame appearance as standard three-dimensional pins, permit the ball topass through to the end of the alley without aifecting the positioningof the simulated pins in any way.

Still a further object is the provision of a simulated bowling pinassembly, which may be suspended from a standard part of an automaticpin setting equipment in a position normally occupied by a standard pin,and which is attached to swing out of the way when contact with the ballis made, but without being detached.

In accordance with the general features of my invention I provide asimulated bowling pin assembly, comprising a block and clamp forattachment to a standard part of the automatic pin setting equipment,specifically the pin respotting assembly of such equipment, above a pinlocation, and a hinged pendant portion, forming at its lower part theoutline of a bowling pin, and so positioned that the bottom of the pinjust clears the surface of the bowling alley. When such a pin is struckwith a bowling ball, it moves about its hinged portion to permit theball to pass through to the end of the alley and then returnsimmediately to its pendant position, with the simulated bowling pin insubstantially the identical position which the standard pin would occupyon the alley.

Since automatic pin setting equipment can be set to prevent operation ofthe pin respotting assembly, usually by the mere opening of an electricswitch, the ball return may continue to operate, but the rack forming apart of the pin respotting mechanism does not cycle.

With no pins to be removed or respotted, the ball is quickly [returnedto the foul line of the alley, and practice or instruction may continueat an accelerated rate. Since the simulated bowling pin assembly isreleaseably attached to a standard part of the pin setting mechanism andis not disturbed by the action of the bowling ball, practice may becontinued as long as is desired at a given pin or group of pins. If achange is to be made, it is only necessary to make on trip beneath therack and a few seconds only are required to change the position of thesimulated bowling pin of the present invention.

I have found in actual practice that if a simulated bowling pin assemblyis attached at the 1, 7 and 10-pin positions, it is usually possiblewith most bowlers to go through an entire lesson period without everhaving to change the positions of any of the simulated pin assemblies.With bowlers having particular problems, however, it may be necessary totake a few moments to shift the positions of the simulated pins, and ofcourse the illustrative starting arrangement of the 1, 7 and l0-pins maybe varied in any way to suit the needs of a particular bowler at a giventime.

Other specific objects and features of the invention will be madeapparent from the consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view partly in section indicating onemanner in which the simulated bowling pin assembly of the presentinvention may be utilized;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view showing one form of the simulatedbowling pin assembly;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the manner inwhich the simulated bowling pin assembly may be attached to a standardpart of a pin respotting assembly;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view showing a modified form of theinvention, and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now first to FlGS. 3, 4 and 5, the embodiment of the inventionthere shown comprises a block 10 having a pendant portion 11 on thefront of which a simulated bowling pin 12 is attached. The pendantportion 11 is suitably attached to a downwardly projecting portion 13 ofthe block 10 and fixed by means of rivets 14. The portion of the pendant11 immediately below the point of attachment to the block forms a hinge,as at 16. The pendant portion 11 is made of a suitable flexible,resilient material such as a rubber or a fabricreinforced strip ofsemisoft rubber, although other materials such as various plastics rnaybe used.

The exact material to be employed is without significance, as long as ithas the property of flexing to permit movement, as indicated by thedotted line in FIG. 4, and quick return to pendant position, as shown bythe full lines. When the material comprising the pendant portion isformed of sheet rubber, for example, the hinge 16 may merely comprisethe upper portion of the pendant portion. I may, of course, provide aregular hinge, such as the conventional piano hinge, but I have foundthe use of such a special hinge for the purpose not only costly, butactually more subject to wear and loss of function than a hinge merelycomprising a section of resilient, flexible material.

The simulated bowling pin 12 preferably comprises a relatively thinstrip of white rubber or plastic secured in face to face relation withthe flat pendant portion 11 by means of a suitable adhesive. I have onoccasion merely applied the outline of a bowling pin on the pendantportion 11 by means of light-colored rubber-base paint, having anoverall thickness of, say, two to three thousandths of an inch.Optionally, however, it may be to 4 thick and comprise a solid rubberstrip attached by adhesive. It should be of a material to withstand theimpact and wear of a ball striking it. Suitably the pendant portion isformed of Ms thick good grade black rubber strip which may, if desired,be reinforced with a thin layer of fabric. It is, of course, obviousthat the pendant portion 11 and the simulated bowling pin 12 should beof contrasting colors, and I have found that black rubber strip for thependant 16 and off-white rubber for the simulated bowling pin make anideal combination.

The block 10 and portion 13 may be formed of any suitable material, andI have found that a good grade of plywood is suitable for the purpose.To the front face of the block 10 I attached a clamp 17, which is of thequick-acting type, with a toggle mechanism as shown (see FIG. includingan operating lever 18 and clamping arm 19, with an adjustable headed pin21 for engaging the part of the mechanism to which the simulated bowlingpin assembly is to be attached. The clamp 17 may be of standard type,and I have found that either a Number 202 Destaco Toggle Clamp or anH200 KNU-Vise Clamp may be used with satisfaction.

While the simulated bowling pin assembly of the present invention may beconstructed in various ways and with various dimensions, depending uponthe specific mechanism to which it is to be attached, I have obtainedvery good results when using the assembly on AMP type equipment if theoverall length is 26%, and the 'block with its downward projection 13 isa total of 12" in length. The length of the pendant portion 11 is suchas to provide the overall dimension of the assembly as indicated,allowing a suitable top portion for adjustment to the block. The widthof the pendant as well as the width of the block 10 may be, for example,4 to conform generally with the width of the standard bowling pin, whichthe simulated pin 12 resembles in outline and dimension.

As already pointed out, the simulated bowling pin assembly of thepresent invention is attachable to any type of automatic pin settingequipment using the standard part for attachment, so that the simulatedpin will occupy the same position at the pin end of the bowling alleywhich would be occupied by the real or standard pin. In the drawings, inFIGS. 1, 2 and 5, I illustrate part of a standard respotting assembly ofa type manufactured by American Machine and Foundry Co., which is knownuniversally as AMF. While equipment in commercial use will differsomewhat in structure from those shown in published patents, Patent No.2,781,195 may be referred to for identification of the respottingmechanism, the bracket 25 being generally similar to the clamping bar374 shown in the drawings of such patent. The pin gripping bracket 26'is provided in such equipment, and it cooperates with a second pingripping bracket (not shown) which grips pins still standing after afirst ball has been thrown, and lifts them free of the alley while thefallen pins are swept from the alley and gutters at the side of thealley. The bracket 26 carries a sponge rubber face 27 which normallygrips-the front edge of the pins when they are lifted. Looking at FIG.5, it is seen that when the block 10 is placed against the sponge rubberpad 27 and the clamp 17 operated by the lever 18, the pendant portionwith the simulated bowling pin will lie just to the rear (to the rightin FIGS. 2 and 5) of the position occupied by the pin gripping bracket26. Since this bracket is slightly ahead of the pin position, so that asit moves towards its cooperating bracket to engage front and backportions of the head of the pin, the pin gripping bracket 26 is actuallyslightly ahead of the pin position. The result is that, with thearrangement shown in the drawings, the simulated pin will center in thecircular spot on the alley indicating the pin position.

FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate schematically as far as it is possible, the topsurface 23 of the bowling alley normally supporting the standard pins,with the usual gutters at the side. As there shown, also, there is a pingripping bracket 26 for each of the pins. These brackets are displacedfrom each other both laterally and longitudinally in the same way as thepins themselves are spaced. In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is a simulatedbowling pin assembly attached at the l, 3 and 7-pin positions. I havechosen these positions for illustration on the drawing because they bestindicate the displacement of the pins, and in side elevation all threeelevations are shown, one simulated pin assembly not being obscured bythe other. As shown, particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the simulated pinassembly just clears the surface of the alley and the bowling ball mayroll freely under a simulated pin assembly, as the drawings indicate. Ifthe simulated bowling pin assembly were set up in the manner shown, itwould probably be used for the purpose of practicing a so-called pockethit between the one and three pins, but I have shown only the three-pinbeing struck by the ball, to illustrate the manner in which the bowlermay throw at a single pin or group of pins if he should desire. It maybe repeated at this time that, when the simulated bowling pin assemblyis used in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or with any other patternof pins selected by the instructor or bowler in practice, the pinrespotting assembly which carries the brackets 26 is not operated, theonly activity being that the simulated pin will immediately return toits pendant position, and the ball will be returned back to the bowler.

If desired, the simulated bowling pin may be three dimensional as shownin the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In thisform of the invention the parts may be constructed in general the sameas described in the first embodiment, and I have employed the samereference characters to identify like or similar parts with, however,the prefix l to indicate modification. It will be noted that thesimulated pin 112 is in the form of substantially a half pin andattached to the pendant 111 by screws The pendant may be formed ofblack, hand rubber, as in the previous embodiment, and the simulatedbowling pin 112 of any suitable material, such as molded wood, solidcompacted papiermache, various molding compounds, white rubbercomposition, various plastics and the like. The only requirement is thatit have sufficient strength and resiliency to withstand the impact ofthe bowling ball, and remain attached to the pendant portion 111. Ingeneral I have found no particular advantage in teaching using the halfrelief structure of the present embodiment over the mere pin outline,but some players in practice have indicated a preference for the halfrelief structure, particularly when practising certain types of spareswhere the ball is slightly deflected from its course when striking thepin.

I have described my invention in detail, and shown specific embodimentthere-to, in order that those skilled in the art may understand apractising of same. The scope of the invention, however, is defined bythe claims.

I claim:

1. A combination assembly of a simulated bowling pin sub-assembly andautomatic pin setting equipment, comprising a block, means for attachingthe block to a portion of said pin setting equipment above a spot on abowling alley surface normally occupied by a bowling pin, hinge meanssuspended from said block, and a pendant member defining the outline ofa standard bowling pin secured to said hinge means, said pendant memberclearing the said alley surface only slightly to position said standardbowling pin outline substantially in the same attitude occupied by abowling pin, whereby when said pendant member is struck by a bowlingball, the said pendant member may swing about said hinge means andpermit the bowling ball to continue its rolling course along the bowlingalley.

2. A combination assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said hinge meanscomprises a flap of resilient material, and said pendant membercomprises a flat resilient strip of relatively dark-colored organicmaterial which is a continuation of said flap to the front face of whicha 6 flat layer of light-weight organic material is adhesively securedforming the outline of a bowling pin.

3. A combination assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said pendantmember carries on its forward face a projection in substantially halfrelief of a standard bowling pin, said projection formed of relativelyresilient material having the general resiliency characteristics of abowling pin.

4. A combination assembly of a simulated bowling pin sub-assembly andautomatic pin setting equipment, comprising a block, a clampassociatedwith said block for releasably clamping the said block to a standard pingripping member -forming a part of a pin respotting mechanism of saidautomatic pin setting equipment, hinge means depending from said block,and a pendant member projecting downwardly from said hinge means, saidpendant member having on its forward face a simulated pin member in thesize and outline of a bowling pin, the parts being so constructed andarranged that when. the block is attached to the pin gripping memberforming a part of the respotting mechanism, the said simulated pin willoccupy substantially the same position on a bowling alley as would thestandard pin which would normally be associated with the same grippingmember.

5. A combination assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said hinge meansand pendant member comprise a flat strip of rubberlike material, andsaid simulated pin member comprising a light-colored strip of similarmate rial.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,512,739 Baker Oct. 21, 1924 2,528,560 lStrong Nov. 7, 1950 2,776,137Cohn Ian. 1, 1957 2,967,055 *Sardella Ian. 3, 1961

1. A COMBINATION ASSEMBLY OF A SIMULATED BOWLING PIN SUB-ASSEMBLY ANDAUTOMATIC PIN SETTING EQUIPMENT, COMPRISING A BLOCK, MEANS FOR ATTACHINGTHE BLOCK TO A PORTION OF SAID PIN SETTING EQUIPMENT ABOVE A SPOT ON ABOWLING ALLEY SURFACE NORMALLY OCCUPIED BY A BOWLING PIN, HINGE MEANSSUSPENDED FROM SAID BLOCK, AND A PENDANT MEMBER DEFINING THE OUTLINE OFA STANDARD BOWLING PIN SECURED TO SAID HINGE MEANS, SAID PENDANT MEMBERCLEARING THE SAID ALLEY SURFACE ONLY SLIGHTLY TO POSITION SAID STANDARDBOWLING PIN OUTLINE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE SAME ATTITUDE OCCUPIED BY ABOWLING PIN, WHEREBY WHEN SAID PENDANT MEMBER IS STRUCK BY A BOWLINGBALL, THE SAID PENDANT MEMBER MAY SWING ABOUT SAID HINGE MEANS ANDPERMIT THE BOWLING BALL TO CONTINUE ITS ROLLING COURSE ALONG THE BOWLINGALLEY.